Household lubricant and method of use

ABSTRACT

A water-based household lubricant, free of hydrocarbon oils, comprises a water-soluble ammonium salt of a surfactant, preferably a carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate or sarcosinate surfactant, preferably having rust preventative activity, most particularly ammonium N-oleol sarcosinate as a main or sole component. The composition also desirably contains an anti-microbial and a surface tension reducer, most preferably N-(N-octal)-2-pyrrolidone. An aqueous solution of the ammonium salt of the fatty acid surfactant, which is non-staining, is applied to a substrate, the water evaporates and ammonia from the ammonium ion is slowly released into the atmosphere leaving the surfactant as a lubricant. The residue provides rust resistance, water repellency and lubrication.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a household lubricant which does not involve organic solvents, is not flammable, does not stain washable fabrics, provides lasting lubrication and provides lasting rust prevention, and its use for household lubrication. The present application is based on provisional application 60/345,838, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Surfactants having the property of rust prevention are known, e.g. N-acyl sarcosine, referring to “The Use of N-acyl Sarcosinate Surfactants In Personal Care Products, Hampshire Chemical Corp, 55 Hayden Avenue, Lexiton, Mass. 02173 (1994), which in turn references Crudden et al, “Industrial Applications of Surfactants”, ed. Karsa, pp. 95-119, Royal Society of Chemistry (1992). Insofar as is known, however, surfactants have never been suggested for use per se as lubricants.

[0003] Most lubricants, including household lubricants, are based on hydrocarbon oils, e.g. light hydrocarbon oils dissolved in volatile organic solvents, e.g. a volatile hydrocarbon solvent. Other liquid lubricants are based on silicone oils or dispersions of graphite, molybdenum sulfide and/or slippery plastic particles, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene. Problems which exist with respect to such prior household lubricants are that they involve toxic organic solvents, are inflammable, stain fabrics and/or tend to cause corrosion or rusting the surfaces to which they are applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] There is a need for a household lubricant, i.e. a lubricant that can be safely used in the house, that does not involve organic solvents, is not inflammable, does not stain washable fabrics, which provides lasting lubrication, and which also provides lasting rust prevention. Such a household lubricant is provided according to the present invention based on a aqueous solution of an ammonium salt of a long chain hydrocarbon preferably having at least 12 carbon atoms with an acid group of one end, e.g. preferably a carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate, or sarcosinate of a fatty acid. These compounds, many of which are known, e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,354, and which are commercially available, are surfactants, e.g. such compounds also have the property of reducing surface tension of the water. Ammonium salts thereof form free ionic molecules as well as micelles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0005] Household lubricant compositions in accordance with the present invention consist essentially of only water and a lubricant-effective amount of an ammonium salt of the surfactant, preferably an ammonium salt of a long chain fatty acid carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate or sarcosinate. Insofar as is known, such ammonium salts are novel. They may be formed in situ by mixing the surfactant with aqueous ammonium hydroxide.

[0006] The household lubricant composition of the present invention may also contain other non-essential components including anti-microbial agents, additional surface tension reducers and other lubricants, although the present composition is preferably free of other lubricants. On the other hand, the present household lubricant composition may comprise more than one of the aforementioned fatty acid surfactants which provide lubrication.

[0007] Upon application of the present composition to the surface to be lubricated, e.g. by spraying or by application of drops of the aqueous solution, the water from the composition evaporates and ammonia is released into the atmosphere from the ammonium salt, the ammonium ion being in equilibrium with free ammonia according to the following equations which show the chemical reactions. As free ammonia is released into the atmosphere and is not replaced in the solution, such release of free ammonia drives the reaction to the right.

[0008] Fatty acid ion+ammonium ion→free fatty acid+Ammonia gas↑

[0009] This process is accelerated when the fatty acid reacts with the metal surface releasing hydroxyl ions.

[0010] Metal+fatty acid ion+Water→Metal/Fatty acid compound+Hydroxyl ion

[0011] Hydroxyl ion+Ammonium ion→Water+Ammonia↑

[0012] Once the ammonium ion becomes ammonia and is released, the free fatty acid becomes insoluble in water and in the case of the preferred embodiment actually becomes water repellant. If the composition accidentally comes in contact with washable fabric, it is easily washed off; indeed, when washed in an alkaline detergent mixture, the fatty acid becomes ionic and will add to the surfactant level in the washing solution.

[0013] The maximum quantity of ammonium surfactant in the aqueous composition is only limited by physical characteristics, including solubility of the selected surfactant salt in water and sprayability in the case of sprayable composition. For practical purposes, however, e.g. cost factors, a desirable maximum is about 25% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably about 18% by weight, and most preferably about 10% by weight. The minimum quantity, again for practical purposes, should be at least about 0.1% and preferably about 0.4% based on the total weight of the composition.

[0014] The following specific examples are illustrative and not limitative:

EXAMPLE 1 A Preferred Embodiment

[0015] 4% by weight of N-Oleol Sarcosinate

[0016] 250 parts per million of N-(N-octal)-2-pyrrolidone

[0017] Ammonium hydroxide to pH 7

[0018] Balance distilled water

[0019] The N-(N-octal)-2-pyrrolidone acts as an anti microbial and also as a surface tension reducer. It is volatile and therefore does not effect the performance of the residual of the surfaces.

EXAMPLE 2

[0020] Tall oil fatty acid 0.5-20% Anunonia to pH 6 to 8 Distilled or deionized water balance

EXAMPLE 3

[0021] Soy bean fatty acid 0.5-20% Ammonia to pH 6 to 5 Distilled or deionized water balance

EXAMPLE 4

[0022] Lauryl amino Propionic acid 3-20% Soy bean oil methyl esters 5% Ammonia to pH 5 to 7.5 Distilled or deionized water balance

[0023] In this example, the lauryl amino propionic acid emulsifies the soy bean oil methyl ester.

EXAMPLE 5

[0024] Oleoyl sarcosine 2-20    Ammonia to pH 5-8 Silicone smulsion (e.g. GE SN2068A) 0-10% N-octyl pyrrolidone 0-2%  Distilled or deionized water balance

[0025] In this example, the oleoyl sarcosine must be neutralized before the silicone emulsion is added in order to prevent the emulsion from becoming broken. This example has one advantage and one disadvantage: an advantage is that it has good water-wash off resistance; on the other hand, the presence of the silicone emulsion will also stain fabrics.

[0026] While preferred embodiments have been provided above, it should be clear that those skilled in the art will be able to substitute any of a number of water soluble ammonium salts of fatty acids for those mentioned above, with either no testing or only routine testing being needed to determine that the substituted fatty acid must be water repellant once the ammonia is released. As indicated above, mixtures of these fatty acids can also be used. In the case of N-oleol sarcosine, the commercial product contains free fatty acid; while this would not be preferred, it is entirely satisfactory.

[0027] As indicated above, the composition is intended to be used and is useful as a household lubricant, e.g. for dropping or spraying where needed, e.g. to lubricant a lock or a hinge or the like.

[0028] The household lubricant composition is optimally dispensed by a trigger sprayer that has an extension tube enabling the lubricant to be placed a drop at a time on items to be lubricated, or sprayed, e.g. into a lock. Such a trigger dispenser comprises an integral fixed extension tube to a typical trigger sprayer, which extension enables the lubricant to be placed one drop at a time or sprayed. The tube has a length which is greater than 7.6 mm and a bore less than 4.1 mm.

[0029] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without undue experimentation and without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. The means, materials, and steps for carrying out various disclosed functions may take a variety of alternative forms without departing from the invention.

[0030] Thus the expressions “means to . . . ” and “means for . . . ”, or any method step language, as may be found in the specification above and/or in the claims below, followed by a functional statement, are intended to define and cover whatever structural, physical, chemical or electrical element or structure, or whatever method step, which may now or in the future exist which carries out the recited function, whether or not precisely equivalent to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed in the specification above, i.e., other means or steps for carrying out the same functions can be used; and it is intended that such expressions be given their broadest interpretation. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A household lubricant composition consisting essentially of a water solution of an ammonium salt of a long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end thereof.
 2. The household lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said acid group is selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, phosphate, and sarcosinate.
 3. The household lubricant composition of claim 2 wherein said long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end thereof is a fatty acid.
 4. The lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein the acid group is sarcosinate.
 5. The household lubricant composition of claim 1 wherein said ammonium salt of said long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at one end is present in said composition in an amount of about 0.1% to about 25% by weight.
 6. The household lubricant of claim 1 wherein the long chain hydrocarbon with an acid group at the end thereof is a surfactant having rust inhibitive properties.
 7. The household lubricant composition of claim 4 wherein said ammonium salt of said sarcosinate is present in an amount between about 0.1 and about 25% by weight.
 8. The household lubricant composition of claim 4 wherein the quantity of said ammonium salt of said sarcosinate is between 0.4% and 10% by weight.
 9. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 1. 10. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 2. 11. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 3. 12. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 4. 13. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 5. 14. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 6. 15. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 7. 16. In a method of lubricating comprising applying a liquid lubricant to a part in need of lubrication, the improvement wherein said liquid lubricant is the lubricant of claim
 8. 17. A dispenser for the household lubricant composition of claim 1, said dispenser comprising a trigger sprayer adapted to deposit said household lubricant composition a drop at a time, and comprising an integral fixed extension tube having a length greater than 7.6 mm and a bore less 4.1 mm. 